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Report no. 550:

Abstract

Two different management strategies and group sizes of group-housed, gestating sows fed by way of trickle feeding were studied in two herds.The trial ran for approx. 2½ years and comprised 1,475 litters.

The trial comprised the following groups:

• Large pen with 20 sows that were not sorted according to age/size at penning
• Small pen with 6-7 sows that were sorted according to age/size at penning

The sows were transferred to the gestation unit approx. two days after service.

There were no significant differences between group sizes in terms of the total number of pigs born per litter.

In the one herd, there was a significant difference in the farrowing percentage between the two groups. Sows housed in large groups had a lower farrowing percentage than sows housed in small groups. The reason for this difference was that in pens with large groups more sows were removed than in pens with small groups. It cannot be ruled out that sows removed due to factors other than rebreeding were gestant. Thereby it cannot be completely established whether the housing conditions affected the gestation percentage of the sows.

No differences were observed in the sows’ body condition, gain or in the standard deviation of these depending on the housing conditions.

In the pens with 20 sows, there was more mess in the lying area and more sows changed places during feeding compared with pens with 6-7 sows.

Thus the two management strategies and group sizes studied in this trial did not seem to affect the reproduction of the sows unequivocally. The housing conditions alone affected the function of the pen and the number of sows switching places during feeding. On the basis of these results it is recommended to house sows in groups of 6-7 sows when trickle feeding is employed.